Yesterday I hired a plane, much as I did at this time last year, only this time with my friend Tim, and we flew over the south of Iceland for just over two hours. Our journey took us all the way to Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that caused all that air traffic chaos in 2010; Landmannalaugar, an area where the river flows warm enough to bathe in all year round; over the Westman Islands; and back along the south coast. Naturally I had my camera with me and took a few photos, some of which you can see here… (click images to view larger for best effect!)

The Hvitá river in southern Iceland

Looking south towards the Westman Islands

Snow-covered mountains to the north of Eyjafjallajökull

A geothermally heated river in the Landmannalaugar area

Snow covered mountains meet a flood plain

The town of Vestmannaeyjar on Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands

The natural harbour on Heimaey (right), which was threatened by the volcanic eruption in 1973

Hay is dumped on the sand near Skipagerði to protect the beach from erosion

River trails in the snow

Mountains behind Eyjafjallajökull

Ash from the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull is broken up by moving snow

River trails in the snow near Landmannalaugar

Snow covered mountains near Landmannalaugar

Warm river melting the surrounding snow near Landmannalaugar